Children`s voices: quotes from children about music and its importance

Children’s voices: quotes from children about music
and its importance
Children often say it best! What follows is a sampling of what children around the world
had to say when asked to share what music means to them. In their own voices, they express
why music is important in their lives.
➢
Music is important because it lets kids’ brains flow into new experiences and learn in new
ways. (Age 9, United States)
➢
Me gusta la música porque despierta en mi diferentes sentimientos, y me gusta hacer
música con otros chicos porque todos dependemos de todos sea simple o complicada la
parte que haya que tocar. [I like music because it arouses different feelings in me. I like
playing music with other children because we all depend on each other, no matter how
simple or difficult the part we have to play is.] (Age 12, Argentina)
➢
Music has definitely helped me understand myself better. (Age 15, Australia)
➢
When I hear lovely music I feel that I can fly. (Age 6, Hong Kong)
➢
Ich kann ohne Musik nicht leben. Musik bedeutet für mich Spaß und Action. Wenn ich
sauer auf meine Eltern oder Schwester bin, dann mach ich mir Musik an und reg mich
wieder ab. [I can’t live without music. To me music means fun and action. When I am angry
with my parents or my sister, music calms me down.] (Age 13, Germany)
➢
Studying music is important because it gives you a good attitude. It gives you a high goal
and makes you determined to work hard. (Age 11, Canada)
➢
Music makes me aware of who I am. Singing and dancing is a part of my life, so to be able
to sing and dance at school makes my life complete. (Age 17, Namibia)
➢
When I am happy I like to sing those songs that I like. (Age 8, Hong Kong)
➢
Cuando hago música la disfruto con el alma de músico que tengo. [When I play music, I
enjoy it with my musician soul.] (Age 11, Argentina)
➢
I think music is important to learn in school because it gives a sense of happiness, sadness,
it brings the group together. It’s what you do when you’re scared, nervous or bored, you
hum that slight tune over and over again, that old song you learned when you were in the
first grade. How strong you feel! You can fly in music. In a song, you’re light on your feet,
gliding through the air. You can do anything when you listen, sing, or play music. For
Martin Luther King, Jr once said: One day all people will join hands and sing that old
spiritual ‘free at last, free at last, thank God all mighty we’re free at last!’ I think all people
should have music. All people. All people! (Age 11, United States)
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MUSIC EDUCATION Copyright © 2005 International Society for Music Education
Vol 23(2) 179-181 [(200508)23:2] 10.1177/0255761405052422 www.sagepub.com
180 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MUSIC EDUCATION 23(2)
➢
Musik ist für mich was Schönes, weil man mit Musik weinen und lachen kann. [Music is
wonderful, because music helps you to cry and to laugh.] (Age 13, Germany)
➢
I think music has made me a bit loud – and that’s a good thing! (Age 12, Australia)
➢
La música me divierte y me gustan las vibraciones que me produce, y es mucho más
importante que las matemáticas y lengua. [For me music is fun and I like the vibrations it
generates in me, and it is more important than mathematics and language.] (Age 11,
Argentina)
➢
Studying music is important because it gives you rhythm, makes you dance, and it is just a
joy to do and make music. (Age 8, Canada)
➢
Music has changed my life! Before I was introduced to performing in a music group I had
nothing, now I have something to live for. (Age 16, South Africa)
➢
Musik machen bedeutet für mich, dass man Gefühle mit einbezieht und über sein Leben
erzählt. [To make music means to me to be emotionally involved and to say something
about your life.] (Age 13, Germany)
➢
Studying music is important because it makes my mom happy! I get to participate in
competitions. It is fun to compete and play. It is not fun to practice! (Age 13, United States)
➢
I enjoy school because of music. The lesson is different because we don’t write, we sing and
dance. (Age 12, Malawi)
➢
Studying music is important because you could learn the music and get good at it and then
get degrees and diplomas, scholarships, and jobs. (Age 9, United States)
➢
Music has given me a lot of confidence to do what I want – within reason – and not to
worry about what other people think so much, and just do what I believe I should do. (Age
13, Australia)
➢
Disfruto mucho haciendo música y me gusta tocar en conciertos con mis compañeros para
poder compartir con otros chicos y con los grandes algo que tanto me gusta como la
música. [I enjoy music and I love playing in concerts with my classmates so I can share with
other children and grown-ups the music I love so much.] (Age 8, Argentina)
➢
Music is something that I need in my life, do you need it? (Age 12, Hong Kong)
➢
Ich denke dass Musik einem was erzählt. [I think music can tell you something.] (Age 13,
Germany)
➢
We don’t have music in our school, but we do make a lot of music at home. My family
enjoys singing and playing Chopi at special times. (Age 11, Mozambique)
➢
Music is interesting, because you’re having fun. You get to do something instead of just
writing notes and listening to teachers talk. It gives you something to do instead of just
sitting there. The best part is when we get to write and say music. It’s good because it’s
fun. It’s not just where you write stuff or just listen to music. You get to make it. (Age 12,
Australia)
➢
La música es para mi como mi segundo corazón. Yo nunca voy a dejar de ir a mis clases de
música aunque mis papás me obliguen. [Music is for me like my second heart. I will never
interrupt my music lessons even if my parents force me to.] (Age 9, Argentina)
➢
Musik hilft mir viel bei den unterschiedlichsten Dingen. Beim Entspannen, Nachdenken, in
der Freizeit. Ohne Musik wäre die Welt ziemlich klanglos und langweilig. [Music helps me in
different situations – to relax, to reflect and to spend my free time. Without music the world
would be soundless and boring.] (Age 13, Germany)
Children’s voices 181
➢
I like playing the recorder but only want to play those tunes that I have heard. (Age 8, Hong
Kong)
➢
I enjoy performing music, especially if I’ve performed well. When I perform with stage band
or concert band I love it. The biggest thing that’s kept me going as a musician is the fact
that the school doesn’t have many brass players. The band relies on me to be there to play.
(Age 16, Australia)
➢
Ich persönlich höre Hip Hop weil das auch gegen Rassismus ist. [I listen to hip hop because
this music is against racism.] (Age 13, Germany)
➢
Singing in the choir on the stage is a wonderful experience ? I feel that I am more privileged
than my classmates who are not members of the choir. (Age 12, Hong Kong)
➢
I don’t learn about music. I want to, but we don’t have it at my school. (Age 10, Botswana)
➢
La música es una excelente forma de comunicarnos y de conocer a muchos chicos que
hacen lo mismo que yo y les gusta. Es bueno tener a alguien que toca con uno así
aprendemos a escucharnos uno al otro. [Music is an excellent way to communicate and to
meet many children doing the same as I do and liking what I like. It’s good to have
someone to play with, so we can learn to listen to each other.] (Age 10, Argentina)